Clutch.



A. c. MATHER.v

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.1,1907.

Patented AugD 24, 1909.

f Ar/fn [NVE/WOR .uomo c. :marmer CHICAGO.. ILLINOIS..

GLUT CH.

specijmfznn of'nenerls Patent.

Patented Aug. 24 1909.

Application fuea nach 1, 190,7.- seriai No. aeaozs.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALONZO C. MATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of l Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in a clutch and has for its object the construction of a clutch in which the driving-shaft may be coupled with the driven -shaft by means of friction and in addition to the frictional contact to rovide means for locking the members rigldly together.

A further object of my invention is to so construct the clutch that the locking mechanism may be withdrawn from action withoutV releasing the frictional contact between the members.

A still further object of my invention is to rovide means for operating the clutch so t at the frictional contact may be applied so as to permit the members to slip, which in some cases is desirable, as for example: when the clutch is used on automobiles it is an advantage when climbing a hill to allow the clutch to slip.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1. is a vertical sectional view of a clutch embodying my invention; Fig. 2. is a sectional view on line 2 2 Fig. 1; Fig. 3. is a view similar to Fig. 2. with the clutch member removed; Fig. 4. is a cross-section on line 4 4 Fig. 1.

In the drawing 1 is a driving-shaft securely bolted to a disk 2 which may be made heavy to act as a fly-wheel. The said disk has a conical recess formed in its face to form a surface 3 against which acts thev clutch member 4. A shaft- 6 is revolubly mounted, at one end, in a central aperture formed in the disk and is held in position by a nut 7 and pin 8 on the reduced end portion 9 of the shaft 6. Ball bearings 10 are provided to relieve the friction caused by end thrusts of the shaft.

The clutch member 4 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 6'and is prevented from turning upon said shaft by means of a key 12 which 1s secured in a recess in said shaft and in an elongated slot 13 formed in the inside of the sleeve 14 of the clutch member 4.

The clutch member 4 has a conical flange conforming to the shape of the recess formed in the face of the disk. Said clutch member is provided' with a leather face or bushing 16 which contacts with the of the disk 2.

A heavy spring 18 is provided'to increase the amount of friction between the disk 2 and the clutch member 4. Said spring 18 acts between a collar 19 screwed on the end of the sleeve 14 of the clutch member and a nut 20 on the shaft 6. The nut 20 is 'screwed upon thev shaft so that its position can be adjust-ed to vary the pressure of the spring against the clutch'member. A lock-nut 21' is provided to prevent the nut 20 from accidentally turning. A

A locking member 22 is provided, having a sleeve 23 slidably mounted on the sleeve 14, of the clutch member. A key 24 secured in a recess in the sleeve 14 of the clutch member 4 and working in a slot formed in the sleeve 23 of the locking member 22 prevents the latter from turnmg and permits it to slide longitudinally upon the sleeve- 14 of they clutch member. The said locking member consists of the vsaid sleevev 23, above vdescribed, having radial arms 25 carrying projections 26, extending at right angles to said arms. The said projections 26' proJect through apertures lformed inl the clutch member 4 and are adapted to enter a er- Itures 30 formed for that pur ose in the isk, as shown in Fig. 3.. The s eeve23 isalso provided with collars 31 and 32 which are secured upon said sleeve. 31 and 32 form flanges between which is placed a yoke 34 having stud-shafts 35 and 36 mounted in arms 37 and 38 dependin conical surface The said collars from the square shaft 40. Upon the sha t" 40 is a pedal 41 for operating the same. Between the coll-ars 31 and 32 1s placed a sleeve 39 to prevent the'said collars from binding the yoke 34 and also preventing the yoke the sleeve 23.

A spring 44 is placed between the collar 32 on the lock-ing member and the nut 20 on the shaft 6 and 1s adapted to force the locking member into engagement with the disk 2.

A set-screw 46 or any other suitable device may be used to permanently hold the locking member out of action.

The operation of my invention is asv fol.-

lows: When the pedal 41 is in the position shown in Fig. '1 the spring 18 forces the clutch member 4 a ainst the disk 2 and the spring 44 forcest 7e projections 26 of the locking membeninto engagement with the disk. The parts being thus positively locked from resting upon the threaded portion of Y ion I together the motion oit the disk will be commnnicated to the shaft 6, as the looking member and the clutchl member are each keyed to prevent them turning Without `vturningthe 'said shatt. By moving the pedal in the di rection or? the arrovv Fie'. i., tbeiocking mem-f ber Q2 will be acted upon by the yoke Se which Will slide' the said locking member upon the sleeve ril of the clutch member, against the action of the spring 34, and the projections 26 of the locking member will be Withdrawn from engagement with the disk. rThe ciutcli member Will remain in contact with the disk, by the action of the spring 18, untii the pedai is still further advanced, when so advanced the collar 32 on the sleeve ofthe locking member will contact with the collar i9 on the sleeve le or' the clutch member, ivbicb Wil-l cause the latter to slide upon tbe shab 6 against the action or' the spring itl and relieve the pressure Abetween the c ntch member andthe disk and allow the ciutch member to slip. By advancing the pedal stili farther the clutch member Will be Withdrawn entirely troni the action of the disk and allow the latter to revolve Without turning the clutch member and the shatt t. Vvhen the pedal is brought back to its original position, (Fig. l.} theo-latch member will be released rst and ,the heavier spring l Will quickly torce it against the disk causing the parts to rotate tovetlier. The locking member will then be released and the lighter spring te Wilt slide the locking member upon the sleeve le, oi 'the clutch member and force the projections 26 against the surface of the disk and cause them to drop into the apertures in the disk' when tbe iatter turns sufficiently, in relation to 'the clutch member, to bring the said apertures in alinement with the projections and thus securely lock the parte together.

It it is desired to use the clutch with the clutch member only, the locking member may be Withdrawn out ci action. and secured by theset screw at to the sleeve is or the clutch member, the latter may then be operated by the pedalvvitbout the projections of the clutch member entering, into the apertures formed in the disk. Any suitable means may be used to hold tbe locking member out of action Without departing from my invention.

A late e7 isrbolted to the inner face of the disk 2 to prevent dust from entering the interior ot the clutch, a central aperture being formed in said plate 47 to allow the sleeve 23 oft' the locking member to, freely rotate therein.'-

`Having thus described my invention l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent. 1. ln ay clutch, thecombination of a disk, .a shaft, means for rotating said disk, a

clutch, `member having a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft, said clutch member adapted to be brought into frictional contact with said disk, a sleeve having projections extending through said clutch member and adapted to enter apertures formed in said disk7 said sleeve having said projections being slidably mounted on the sleeve of said clutch member, a collar on the sleeve of said clutch |member, said collar being detachably secured so that said. sleeve carrying said projections may slide over the end or said sleeve of said clutch member and be readily -re moved therefrom, springs encircling said shaft to act against said sleeves and means for withdrawing said projections and said clutcb member out of contact with said disk.

2. ln a clutch, the combination of a disk, a shaft, means for rotating said disk, a clutch member havin a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft, sai clutch member adapted to be `brought into rictional contact with said disk, a sleeve having projections extending through said clutch member and adapted to enter apertures formed in said disk, said sleeve having said projections being slidably mounted on the sleeve of said clutch mem-- ber, means for locking the said tivo sleeves together when said projections are out of f action, sprin s encircling said shaft to act against said s eeves and means :tor Withdrawin'g said projections and said clutch member out of Contact With said disk.

3. ln a clutch, the combination oit a disk, a shaLtt, means tor rotating said disk, a clutch member adapted to be brought into trictional Contact Twith said disk, said clutch meinberhaving a sleeve slidably mounted on said shaft, a sleeve having projections thereon, said lattersleeve being slidably mounted on said sleeve carrying said clutch member, a key between the two last mentioned members, said clutch member having apertures formed .therein through which saidprojections entend, said disk having apertures y formed therein to receive the endsy of said projections whereby said disk and said shaft may be locked together', a heavy spring to act on said clutch member, a lighter spring to act on said sleeve carrying said projections, collars on said last mentioned sleeve, means for engaging saidcollars to Withdraw said projections, and a detachable collar on the sleeve of the clutch member adapted to 4be engaged by said sleeve carryinv the said` projections to disengage said clutch member aitterY said projections are Withdrawn.

In testimony 'whereof aix my signature in presence of tvvo Witnesses, v, -ALGNZO C. MATHER.

W'itnesseL 'WALKER BANNING,

H, Dominas.

ilo 

